Desiree Camacho is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Mesquite High School for AZPreps365.com

The Mesquite flag football team defeated Williams Field 35-14 on Tuesday night in Gilbert to advance to the second round of playoffs.

The teams faced off just last week in a nail-biting, double overtime game in which Mesquite took the victory. It was a defensive game that was scoreless until overtime. This time, however, the Wildcats offense came alive.

Williams Field received the opening kickoff, but it was Mesquite’s Mariah Willis who scored first with a touchdown early in the second quarter to put the Wildcats up 7-0. Williams Field responded shortly after, tying the game 7-7. This score held through a relatively slow first half until Mesquite began to dominate in the second half, executing plays and consistently getting long receptions and interceptions.

The half began with an impressive punt return by senior Brooklynne Murray, which led to a touchdown to put Mesquite up 14-7 early in the third quarter. Shortly after, the ball was intercepted by Mesquite’s Jaylene Ayon Garibay, resulting in another touchdown.

The Wildcats offense remained hot, giving the team a comfortable 28-7 lead early in the fourth quarter. Williams Field responded with a touchdown to inch closer, but remained scoreless through the rest of the game. Murray put the nail in the coffin in the final minute, scoring a touchdown that put Mesquite up 35-14.

Defensive back Ciara Fowler intercepted the ball in the final stretch of the game. Cheers erupted from the Wildcats, who were smiling ear to ear after advancing to the second round.

“We went very conservative the first game, and this game, we knew we got to show them a totally different set of cards,” said assistant coach Robert Tomas. “[We] did exactly what we wanted to do and that was extend the field and throw the ball deep.”

Sophomore Willis said the team watched film from their last matchup with Williams Field and practiced what they saw they did poorly to prepare for this game. Willis also credited the teams camaraderie continuously hyping each other up and keeping a focused mindset.

“It’s all about our mentality,” she said.

It was an especially good game for quarterback Jordyn Flores, who scored three of Mesquite’s five touchdowns and made impressive passes throughout the game.

“Getting Jordyn out of the pocket and letting her run or pass and make options was huge,” head coach Chad Montgomery said. “She had a great night and she played a heck of a game.”

Montgomery said the main focus after this game will be getting reset and refocused for the next matchup, after being pumped up over this win.

Mesquite, ranked sixth, will be facing No. 3 Canyon View in the quarter finals on Thursday, October 26, at 6 p.m. at Canyon View High School in Waddell. This will be the first time the teams face each other.